Monday, March 16, 2015

Review of Frankenstein Agent of S.H.A.D.E.

Frankenstein Agent of S.H.A.D.E. volumes
1 & 2: War of the Monsters and Secrets of the Dead. Trade
paperbacks, collecting issues 0-16, written by Matt Kindt and Jeff Lemire, with
art by Alberto Ponticelli.

This was one of my favorite titles from DC Comics’ New 52 initiative.
In this version of the Creature Commandos, Frankenstein’s monster leads a
black-ops team that includes the Werewolf, a Vampire, a Mummy, and an
amphibian/human hybrid. All of their activities are overseen by S.H.A.D.E. (The
Super Human Advanced Defense Executive), an entity run by Father Time, with
help from the UN's Dr. Ray Palmer, who has shrunk their entire HQ into a 3-inch
indestructible globe.

The idea of a Super-Agent Frankenstein is high-concept
science fiction, and the stories told in these volumes were consistently
entertaining. We start with a stream of monsters emerging in a small town, and Frank
joins forces with his team (and his wife) to handle this scenario.

One of the great aspects about these issues was the love story
that Lemire told about Frankenstein and his bride. But by issue 8, they had
broken up after having to take on their own son (she chooses freedom, and he
chooses S.H.A.D.E.). And many issues passed until she reappeared, and her
absence wreaked emotional damage upon the monster.

Towards the end of the series, Victor Frankenstein himself arrived,
and his machine (the soul-grinder) was the only thing that could stop the
advancement of the Rot. This storyline crossed over into both Swamp Thing and
Animal Man, tying this story into the greater DC Universe.

This series started in the middle of the pack in terms of
sales, but lost more than half of their 1st issue sales by the time
they got to issue #7. Given that precipitous drop, the fact that this title was
canceled after issue 16 was not surprising. I found the cancellation disappointing,
but I can’t say I was surprised.

This was an action-packed science-fiction title that I
enjoyed thoroughly. I hope the characters and the concept re-appear in a
mini-series at some point in the future.